GHWBush, by many accounts a decent man. Son of the Connecticut senator Prescott Bush; a patrician, a Yalie second baseman, a secret society CrushSkull and GrindBoneser, a Maine sailor, head of the CIA, vice-president for eight years under Ronald Reagan, president from 1988-1992, jumper out of airplanes at age 90. Many, many things.

During the post-Civil War era, the 15th Amendment became one of the most essential features of our governing document by ordaining that the right to vote “shall not be denied or abridged...on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” Crucial to the amendment’s future effectiveness was its less renowned Section 2, which granted to Congress the “power to enforce [it] by appropriate legislation.”

An extremely hostile gesture toward Hispanic people on both sides of the border, President Trump’s proposed border wall is also an ineffective way of reducing unwanted migrants and goods from entering our country and a colossal waste of money. Even though the scope of the project has been scaled back, cost estimates keep increasing and Trump’s own estimates have grown from less than $10 billion dollars to a current budget demand of $25 billion; and this would only be an initial down payment.

It was just over a year ago that the Connecticut Public Affairs Network (CPAN) ended its coverage of the state Legislature and more, which it had provided to the public since 1999. CT-N, the cable and streaming video service run by CPAN, which gave the public complete access to legislative sessions, was then taken over by the Legislature itself. This was not a good solution to budgetary cuts that had gutted what CPAN had to work with, ending a tenure that had been a reflection of open government strength in Connecticut over its many years of operation.

Copious gratitude to the Lakeville Journal/Millerton News staff who worked to compile the beautiful Hometown Holidays spreads we sponsored in the Compass section for the final two weeks of November. Over 70 Tri-State Chamber members and friends participated in these festive pages, spreading our mission of “Connecting Commerce and Community.”

How do opioids relieve pain, cause euphoria and lead to an addiction that refuses to take “no” for an answer? How is it that in 2017, 72,000 Americans died of opioid drug overdose? What is the chemistry behind this catastrophe? Is there any hope of controlling it?